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[F603]Free Cigarette Coupons Online

by James Brown, Jam

Customer hungry manufacturers and online retailers are offering Internet coupons to consumers free for printing. There are several websites that amass these coupons into clearing houses where the Internet user can browse through categories and print up savings for him on nearly all brands and all types of consumer goods. Just a quick search on any browser will bring scores of coupon offers. Some websites have mini search engines that allow the user to enter exactly what brand or type of item he is seeking and then perform a search. The website will direct him to a source for coupons on exactly this product and some websites will bring a printable coupon directly to the screen for immediate use.

With all user-friendly atmosphere Internet coupons, why are they listed on EBAY of resale by auction? Coupons are designed to be given away for free, why bid on them?

It doesn't make sense at first glance to go to all the trouble to register, log in search and bid on a free item like an Internet coupon when it is so easy to get them in the first place. Nevertheless, there are multiple auctions for Internet coupons under the heading of “certificates”. Why bother? Is it that people are just so taken with EBAY and other auction sites and really enjoy the thrill and competition of an online auction? At this level, probably, not. It isn't much of an auction and the competition can't be too much of a thrill when most coupons sell for around a dollar. More likely, it is the selection of Internet coupons that is being offered on EBAY that is the cause of the appeal. These are not “cents off” manufacturers' coupons on grocery items.

The coupons listed on EBAY are more upscale or for more expensive purchases such as computers and related products, electronics and for retailers like Gymboree. The coupons are offered for price you must haves items and they are for significant price reductions. The average coupon for sale on EBAY is for $50 of a purchase or it may be a collection of $10 off coupons at a single retailer. Other Internet coupons offered at auction are for 25 to 30% of purchases at online retailers like Office Max and Circuit City. But by far the largest category on Internet coupons on sale at EBAY is for high-end children's products like Gymboree and Jack n Jill where devoted Internet savvy Grannies are shopping for the perfect gift. (Let's face it, most parents settle for Target for kid's clothes and Toys R US for playthings).

It is fairly obvious that it is worth it to the buying to take the time to bid on and purchase an Internet coupon for $50 off purchase of an item he is planning to buy. Even after paying $1 purchase price and up to $4 shipping, the consumer is going to save nearly $59. But how can such small transactions as a dollar plus fees to EBAY result in much of an income for the seller? The answer, as in most sales related things is volume. Internet coupons are offered by sellers who have lots of hundreds of these coupons.

One way of saving money with coupons is to pickup
your local newspaper in order to get the weekly
coupons insert. This really isn't news to anyone,
but it's probably the most widely used method of
gathering up coupons. Once you figure in the
price of the newspaper, compared to how much
money you can save... it's worth doing it. You can
also ask friends and family that get the
newspaper if they use the coupons. If they don't,
they are usually more than willing to give them
away since the coupons will typically be thrown
away anyways.

One drawback to getting the newspaper is that you
never know what coupons will be in it, and if
they're for the items you will use. I've picked
up a newspaper a number of times, and there were
only a few coupons I could really use. So getting
the newspaper sometimes can be a "hit/miss"
situation.

The newspaper is not the only way you can obtain
coupons. There are a few Websites out there (
centsoff.com and thecouponclippers.com) where you
can order the coupons you want and will actually
use when you go shopping. I know the concept
seems strange and you're probably thinking, "Why
should I order coupons when I can get them free?"
Technically, if you purchase the newspaper for
the coupons they are not free. Ordering coupons
and paying a small service can still save you
money in the long run. Let's take a look at how
the savings add up.

For example, let's say you spent $10.00 and
ordered 25 coupons all with a face value under $1.
00. If you use all the coupons, that's an
automatic discount savings of $25.00. Now you
have to subtract what you spent when you ordered
the coupons, which is the $10.00. The total
savings is now $15.00, which is pretty good.
Looking at from this perspective, you really got
your money back in grocery savings that you would
have normally spent anyways.

The above example is a pretty good savings, but
it gets better. Because you ordered coupons all
under $1.00 face value, many grocery stores will
double coupons up to $1.00! Using the above
example, this brings your savings up to $50.00
that's a substantial savings!

Here are a few tips you can use when ordering
coupons:

** Order only what coupons you are going to use.
Some sites will allow you to order up to 50
coupons at one time with flat rate service fee.
50 coupons is a lot and you may or may not end up
using them all. If you have a friend that also
uses coupons, maybe you could split the coupons
and costs between the two of you.

** Choose coupons with a $1.00 face value or
less. Many stores double coupons and you can
double your savings.

** Some sites charge a handling fee per coupon on
top of other fees; do the math to see how much
you will be saving before placing your order.

** Check expiration dates. The farther off the
expiration date is gives you more time to use it.

** Watch for sales! You can save even more money
if the product you have a coupon for goes on sale.
Here's a quick example. I had a coupon for 55
cents off dry cereal. The cereal was on sale for $
1.67, the store doubled the coupon and I only
paid 57 cents for a name brand box of cereal!

** Check more than one store for sales. If you
live where more than one grocery store is in
close proximity, you can plan your shopping list
to buy specific items at different stores using
your coupons.

Using these tips, a little planning and ordering
your coupons wisely, you can save up anywhere
from 50 on your monthly grocery bill.

Article Source : Pg. 17

About Author

Both James Brown & Michelle S. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

James Brown has sinced written about articles on various topics from Stroke Treatment, Computers and The Internet and Computers and The Internet. James Brown writes about , . James Brown's top article generates over 20400000 views. to your Favourites.

Michelle S. has sinced written about articles on various topics from How to Sell on Ebay. Michelle is the webmaster of Coupon Emporium (http://www.couponemporium.com) which provides coupons, printable coupons and coupon codes from across the web.. Michelle S.'s top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.